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ESSAYS,

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED

IN THE YEAR 1765.

THE

PREFACE.

THE following Effays have already appeared at different times, and in different publications. The pamphlets in which they were inferted being generally unfuccefsful, these fhared the common fate, without affifting the bookfeller's aims or extending the writer's reputation. The public were too ftrenuously employed with their own follies, to be affiduous in eftimating mine; fo that many of my best attempts in this way have fallen victims to the tranfient topic of the times; the Ghoft in Cock Lane, or the fiege of Ticonderago.

But though they have paft pretty filently into the world, I can by no means complain of their circulation. The magazines and papers of the day have indeed been liberal enough in this refpect. Most of these effays have been regularly reprinted twice or thrice a year, and conveyed to the public through the kennel of fome engaging compilation. If there be a pride in multiplied editions, I have feen fome of my labours fixteen times reprinted, and claimed by different parents as their own. I have seen them

flourished at the beginning with praife, and figned at the end with the names of Philantos, Philalethes, Philalutheros, and Philanthropos. Thefe gentlemen have kindly stood sponsors to my productions, and to flatter me more have always paffed them as their own.

It is time however at laft to vindicate my claims; and as these entertainers of the public, as they call themselves, have partly lived upon me for fome years, let me now try if I cannot live a little upon myself. I would defire in this cafe, to imitate that fat man whom I have fomewhere heard of in a fhipwreck, who, when the failors preft by famine were taking flices from his pofteriors, to fatisfy their hunger, infifted with great juftice on having the firft cut for himself.

Yet after all, I cannot be angry with any who have taken it into their heads, to think that whatever I write is worth reprinting, particularly when I confider how great a majority will think it fcarcely worth reading. Trifling and fuperficial are terms of reproach that are eafily objected, and that carry an air of penetration in the obferver. These faults have been objected to the following effays; and it must be owned in fome measure that the charge is true, However, I could have made them more metaphyfical had I thought fit, but I would ask whether in a fhort effay it is not neceffary to be fuperficial? Before we have prepared to enter into the depths of a fubject in the ufual forms, we have arrived at the bottom of our fcanty page, and thus lofe the honours. of a victory by too tedious a preparation for the

combat.

There is another fault in this collection of trifles, which I fear will not be fo cafily pardoned. It will be alledged that the humour of them, (if any be found) is ftale and hackneyed. This may be true enough as matters now ftand, but I may with great truth affert, that the humour was new when I wrote it. Since that time indeed many of the topics, which were first started here, have been hunted down, and many of the thoughts blown upon. In fact these Effays were confidered as quietly laid in

the

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